FC Barcelona News: 24 March 2018

Barça players feature prominently in Friday internationals | FC Barcelona
Brazil were in fine form as they dispatched World Cup hosts Russia 3-0 in Moscow, with Philippe Coutinho and especially Paulinho both featuring prominently. After Miranda had put the five-time world champions ahead just after the break, Coutinho doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Paulinho had been brought down by Aleksandr Golovkin.

20 years since Xavi Hernández’ Barça debut | FC Barcelona
March 24 marks 20 years since the debut of a FC Barcelona legend. Midfielder Xavi Hernández, considered to be one of the best to have ever played the game, made his first appearance in a Barça shirt back in 1998, in the semifinal of the Copa Catalunya. Whilst the game was classed as an unofficial contest, Xavi played 90 minutes and showed signs of what was to come.

Barça - Roma and the international break | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona and AS Roma have been drawn against each other in the quarter finals of the Champions League, but some of the players will not have to wait until April 4 to meet with rivals from their Italian opposition. The international fixtures taking place over the course of the coming week allow for a sneak preview of the eagerly awaited contest.

Gerard Piqué: ‘Leo Messi is an alien’ | FC Barcelona
Gerard Piqué is one of teammate Leo Messi’s biggest fans, and he further hailed his Barça colleague’s quality in a recent interview with The Players’ Tribune. “Leo Messi is an alien; he’s not from this planet. This guy is from somewhere else, as what he does isn’t human,” the centre back told the magazine.

Barcelona & Spain will miss inspiration Iniesta when he’s gone | Goal
Andres Iniesta is still sublime. The Barcelona midfielder may have been written off as old and slow by some, but that could not be further from the truth. He remains as special as ever.

Puyol: Neymar could join Madrid | Football Espana
Carles Puyol claims Neymar ‘could join’ Real Madrid and ‘doesn’t see any problem with it’, despite his Barcelona past. Madrid have been heavily touted as Neymar’s next destination if he leaves Paris Saint-Germain, and Puyol – who played with the Brazilian forward at Camp Nou during the 2013-14 campaign – accepted the move could happen.

Barca scouting Vasco’s Paulinho | Football Espana
Barcelona are keeping tabs on highly-rated Vasco de Gama teenager Paulinho, according to reports in the Spanish press.17-year-old Paulo Henrique Sampaio Filho has netted five goals in 25 appearances for the Brazilian giants having made his professional debut last year.

Source: barcablaugranes.com